The Harbor Defense Museum in Brooklyn is more than just a room full of old artifacts — it’s a one-of-a-kind teaching space where history comes alive for thousands of students each year. And now, it’s at risk of being shut down.

The U.S. Army has placed the Harbor Defense Museum on a list of potential closures as part of a nationwide cost-cutting plan. But closing this museum isn’t just shortsighted — it’s a loss our city, our students, and our country can’t afford.

Housed inside Fort Hamilton, the museum sits at the very entrance to New York Harbor — the same place where British troops landed to begin the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. It’s run by a single dedicated curator who, year after year, introduces over 4,000 students to a critical chapter of our nation’s founding. It holds more than 3,000 artifacts, including rare Revolutionary War weapons, and honors the fort’s 200-year legacy of military service.

Shuttering this museum would not just erase a physical space — it would silence a living classroom. It would send the message that preserving our past isn’t worth the money, even when the cost of keeping it open is minimal compared to the value it provides.

We urge the U.S. Army’s Center of Military History, Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, and members of Congress to:

• Remove the Harbor Defense Museum from the closure list
• Publicly commit to keeping it open beyond the 250th anniversary in 2026
• Recognize the museum’s educational and historical importance to Brooklyn and the nation
   

Once history is gone, we don’t get it back. Help us keep this treasure open for future generations of New Yorkers and Americans alike. Sign the petition now.